Chasidy Bainbridge
Muse
Critique Essay
February 17, 2013
Breastfeed or Else Critique By reading the article “Mayor Bloomberg: Breastfeed or Else” by Steve Chapman, it is plain to see that Mayor Bloomberg of New York, as said by Steve Chapman, “…cares a whole, whole lot about what you drink.” (Chapman) Along with diet sodas and New York’s “32-ounce Big Gulp”, Mayor Bloomberg also wants to take away baby formula. According to the article, New York’s health department will enforce rules to deter any mother who doesn’t want to breastfeed. (paragraph 4) When mother’s ask for formula in the hospital, the nurses are required to try to convince them that they’re making a mistake by feeding their babies formula instead of breast milk. Chapman’s convinced that “it may be easier to get marijuana.” (paragraph 5) Instead of other new mother’s getting free bags with formula and other useful items from different formula companies, mothers in New York don’t get that privilege while they’re under Bloomberg’s rules. While reading this article, there is no clear proof that the author is for or against how the mayor runs his city, but there are some things that would leave you to infer different things would make Chapman sound as if he were against his rules. Close to the end of the article, Chapman questions Bloomberg’s rule by saying, “If breastfeeding is good, why shouldn’t everyone do it? And if some choose not to do it, why respect their choices?” (paragraph 7) Bloomberg and his endorsees are determined to get their way without even considering how the women having these children feel. He also says,”…infant formula is not the moral equivalent of unfiltered Camels.” (paragraph 10) Although breastfeeding is proven to be beneficial to your children, such as having higher IQ’s, fewer sicknesses, and to be less likely to be obese, it should still be the mother’s choice whether or not she decides to breastfeed or bottle-feed. However, it is recommended to at least breastfeed for the first six months of the baby’s life. Even though I agree with most of what Chapman says, there are a few things I don’t agree with. The author of this article thinks that, “Women who nurse tend to be better educated and wealthier